The Point - Take 2

I've hit "The Point" again.  Remember that post from last year? Funny how so many of the concerns are still the same for me!  Except now I worry about Jax, too.  Sometimes I feel like I'm just living last year over again just with Jax this time.

Anyways, I've hit the point where the pregnancy is getting really uncomfortable.  My body is getting sluggish, sleep is getting difficult and non-restful, and my mind is starting to worry.  Also, I guess the elastin has officially been released in my body because my hip/pelvic pain is in full force.  Ejection preparation has begun!

Two months from today is my due date.  In some ways I'm really, really, really ready to just hurry up and have this baby.  I have been pregnant 17 of the last 21 months of my life and I'm so ready to be me again.  But, in other ways, I feel like it would be best if this pregnancy never ends because I'm worried about the reality of juggling three kids that are three and under.  Yikes!

I'm sure I'll survive ("I will survive won't I?" I think to myself as I type this), but I'm also realistic enough to know that it's going to be a long, tiring year up ahead.  I'm actually pretty excited to have the kids so close together - it's just going to be a challenge while they're all little but I think it will be great fun in the grand scheme of things. I just need to have faith that things will work out.  Because things will work out.  That I know for sure.  When you're doing what's right and trying your best Heavenly Father always makes your best good enough.

So, I will try to not dwell on my fears but look forward to the day we'll have one more smiling face to add to the two adorable ones I clean and kiss and admire all day long.

 

The Final Weekend

Kimmy has officially entered the MTC.  The past weekend was very busy with Christy's open house and Kimmy's mission farewell.  We drove down to Seminole and/or Tampa 6 days in a row.  Thankfully Sadie and Jax were cooperative and easy going most of the time.  Anyways, here's a quick recap....

Thursday
The kids and I went down to the house to help with open house decorations.  Christy and Matt flew in that evening.


Friday
I had a doctor's appointment and then Christy, Matt, Kimmy, the kids, and I went to Clearwater beach.  That evening we went to a Thrashers baseball game.

The gang shown above during the 7th inning stretch.

Sure love these two!

Baby Joseph and Sadie embrace.

Joseph and Sadie doing 1-2-3-Swing with Kimmy, Christy and Matt. 

Doesn't Joseph have the cutest little smile?

Sisterly moments shown above and below

Saturday
We actually had a relaxing morning and afternoon.  That evening we had Christy's open house at my parent's house.  I forgot my camera so I have no pictures.  However, Kimmy and I did Christy's hair and it turned out quite nicely.  Wish I had a picture to show for our hard work.

Sunday
We went to my parents' ward for Kimmy's talk and then back to their house for lunch.  That evening Kimmy had her mission open house.  Again, no pictures - so sad.

Monday
Ben took the afternoon off of work and we went to Ft. DeSoto beach with some of the family.  Sadie loved playing in the sand and Jax loved eating the sand - to each his own.

Ben appears to be nursing Jax, but in fact, he is just rocking him to sleep.

Kimmy was set apart that evening at the church.

Tuesday
We went to the airport to see Kimmy off.  We all cried our eyes out.  It was really hard to see her go.

Sadie shown above making Kimmy laugh.

The final farewell moment. 

It was a fantastic weekend.  It was great fun to spend some time with Christy and Matt, and it was exciting to see Kimmy off.  She'll be a fantastic missionary!  Can't wait to see how the next 18 months change her life and how she is able to be an instrument in changing the lives of others.

India Night #2

Kimmy requested to have another 'India Night', so last week the family came over and we all gorged ourselves on Butter Chicken, Daal, Naan, and Mango Lassis.  I, of coarse, begged Ben to put on his India attire; and he, or coarse, repeatedly refused.  Thankfully Kimmy and Joseph agreed to wear it....

They were in a zen mood all evening.

After dinner we went on a walk to the lake.  I love evenings like this with the family!

Not everyone walked, though.  There was one bike rider.    

Not sure what it is was but my dad looked ridiculously funny riding this bike.  

7 Skirts in 3 Days

Melanie, Kimmy, and I have labored long and hard to make these 7 mission skirts on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of this past week.  Hope they last long and are much loved!

I made most of this one.  It still needs red ribbon at the bottom though.

This skirt wins the 'Most Challenging' award.

I sewed this one, too :)

I love this pattern. I'm going to attempt to make myself this skirt in the next week or two.

This was the first one we did and my favorite.

Special thanks to Melanie without whom we never, ever would have been able to create these.

Also, special thanks to Sadie, Jax, and Mary (Melanie's daughter) for their patience during the past week.  They behaved quite well.

Dancing Queen

I love this video my sister-in-law, Natalie, captured of Sadie and Baby Joseph dancing at Christy's reception.



Especially love:
1) Joseph keeps trying to walk away but Sadie brings him back.
2) Sadie definitely tends to lead - just like her Grandma Cliffie.
3) Her big twirl at the end.
4) Joseph's sweet little smile and the way he adores her.

I Loved Today

I have no pictures to remember what a perfect day I had today so I have to write it down instead.  

• Blueberry picking + pool + pizza with all the family = fun morning
• Baths + naps + Rays win = amazing afternoon
• Bike ride + playground + sunset = picture perfect evening
• Clean house + happy, sleeping children + cute, caring husband = one REALLY happy Alicia 

A Lovely Trip to Utah

Ben and I are learning to smile through tears and tantrums

It is never easy to travel with children.  Ever.  However, thanks to Ben's mom and sister the process was much more enjoyable.  The kids were definitely off schedule and out of their routine, but we still managed to have a wonderful trip and make some fun memories.  

The plane ride out there felt like it would never end but looking back it really wasn't that bad.  We pulled Jax through the airports in his car seat (shown below).  Not the best of pictures and I'm not sure what Sadie is up to - but, you get the idea.

We didn't arrive until very late on Tuesday.  By the time the kids were both asleep it was 3:30 AM, which is 5:30 AM Florida time.

On Wednesday I went with Christy and the family to the temple while Ben stayed in Heber with the kids.  That evening we had a Johnson get together.

Sadie and cousin Logan playing together in the afternoon

Sadie and cousin Jadyn enjoying a little photo shoot.

Thursday we met Kurt and Des at an Indian restaurant in Provo.  We arrived a little early so we had a mini photo shoot....

Sadie reminds me so much of Ben's mom, Cliffie.

He is growing up so quickly!

Love, love, love his smile

That evening we went to Matt's house for a get together.  He has a fun loft in his house and we had a blast throwing frisbee-type-hats around all evening.

On Friday (day of reception) we didn't need to be in Provo until the afternoon/evening so we went to Zermatt, a resort type place in Heber, for gelato and a carousel ride.

Sadie shown above drooling over the gelato.

Sadie wasn't quite sure what to think of the carousel ride.

She was trying to put on a brave face in the picture above.

Ben switched her to a horse, but she wasn't so fond of that either.

We had planned to ride the carousel a few times but Sadie felt like one ride was plenty.  So instead we went and admired the large bear statue in the parking lot.  She loved that!

On Saturday we needed to be in Provo for the brunch and sealing.  Cliffie and Natalie were kind enough to watch the kids for us all day - thank you, thank you, thank you!

That evening we had a great time eating delicious tacos and decorating Easter eggs back in Heber.  Side note - Ben's grandma, mom, and aunt/uncle all have homes next door to each other.  So, my parents stayed in the basement of Grandma Doris, Kimmy and us stayed in Cliffie's basement, and Mike and Sarah stayed in Auntie Nancy and Uncle Richard's basement.  It was great fun to all be together! 

We didn't start decorating eggs until probably 10PM.

Sadie had a great time - of course!

Easter morning Sadie did a quick check to see if the Easter Bunny had come - he had! (Or is it she had?).  Then we headed off to church.

Ben, Mike, Sarah, and Ethan flew our that day.  I cried like a baby when Ben left.  We may be slightly overly attached to each other.  But, I still had lots of family to keep me company and help with the kids.

Troy and Becky came over that evening and we had a little Easter egg hunt with Jadyn and Sadie.

I'm so in love with this baby!

Monday was nice and layed back.  Cliffie and Natalie had to work, and Kimmy and my parents went to Provo during the day.  

We enjoyed FHE at Nancy and Richards where we all gorged ourselves on Auntie Nancy's amazing cooking and then everyone shared their conversion stories.  It was a wonderful evening!

Tuesday morning we woke up to 6 inches of snow.  We were sad to part with family but I was ready to return home and see Ben.  We had a very turbulent flight; but, despite what I thought at the time, we did in fact end up surviving.

Special thanks to Natalie and Cliffie for their hospitality and loving us through our chaos!  We can't wait until the next time we'll get to see you!!